Oil-switch-operating device



Dec. 28,1926. 1,612,483

1 R. WILKINS- ET Al.

oIIJ SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1925 3 sheets-sheet I HS'LJ.6.

ATTORNEYS?.

lDec. 28 1926.

R.w1LK|Ns ET AL Y OIL SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed May 18, 19255`Sheets-Shet 2 w u l /NVE/VT'ORS.

- ATTORNEYS.

N f] w QJULJ )Ik G 7bd) x 4 e) a .7 s 4 AL R. WILKINS ET AL.

OIL SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Dec. 28 1926.

3 Sheets-Sheet S Filed May 18. 1925 /N VENTO/QS.

mi r R @JM m MWJK T A 9,5m

Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITEDI STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY WILKINS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, ALBERT T. CHURCH, OF-OAKLAND, AND ARTHURK. INGRAHAM, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA; SAID CHURCH .AND SAID INGRAHA'MAssIGNo'ns 'ro SAID WILKINS.

OIL-swrrcH-OPERATING DEVICE.

Application filed May 18, 1925. Serial No. 30,904.v

This invention relates to switch operating mechanisms and particularlyto anfimproved oil switch closing and opening mechanism operated bypowermeans controlled from a distant point. It is well known that electric circuits of high potentialand large current are controlled byswitches in oil pots `located in iireproof cells.' The-closing andopening mechanism for such switches is usually carried on the cellstructure and is' adapted in the switch closing and opening operationsto vertically reciprocate the movable switch contacts. Heretofore theAopening of the switches has quite commonly been' performed by gravityand the closing thereof by an electric motor. It is desirable, however,that these switches should be positively opened and closed with a veryquick action. It is accordingly the primary object of our invention toprovide animproved switch operating mechanism vcontrollable from adistant point and adapted-by a minimum of power to effect the rapidclosing and opening of such switches.

lt is a furtherJ object of our invention to provide a switch operatingmechanism of this type wherein a pair of springs are automatically woundup by a motor, are locked in such condition in a manner also lockingtheswitches iu either the closed or open position,'and operated by'tripl mechanism controlled from a distant point to close and open theswitches by'a quick and powerful action. It will be understood that sucha r mechanism requires the use of only a very small electric motor whichoperates automatically to store up energy in the` springs and whichenergy reacts in a relatively short -period of time to perform itsswitch-moving function.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,our invention consists in the features of construction and operation setfdrth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In such drawings, annexedherelto and forming a part of thisspecification, we have shown certain specific embodiments of ourinventionbut it will be understood that the invention can be otherwiseembodied, and that the drawings are not -to be conthe invention, theclaims appended to this specification being relied upon for thatpurpose.

Referring tothe figures of the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of our improved switch operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the parts in the wound-upposition wherein the switch is open;

Fig. 3 is a. like view showing one spring collapsed and wherein theswitch is closed;

Fig. 4 is a like view showing both springs collapsed and wherein theswitch is open;

Fig. 5 is an end view looking toward the .ings by reference characters,1 indicates the base on whichf our improved switch-operating mechanismis mounted. Rock shafts 2 and 3 are respectively mounted in uprighls 4and 5 at the ends of the base. The. shaft 2 carries an arm 6 at its rearend which is adapted to be connected to the switch or switches to beoperated.

In Fig. 6 we have illustrated three switches, .each mounted in an oilpot 7. Each of these switches comprises two stationary contacts 8 andtwo co-operating movable contacts 9 carried on a vertically extendingrod 10. Bell cranks 11 connect the rods 10 to a horizontal rod 12connected to thearm 6.. It will be seen that rocking movement of theshaft 2 in one direction will close the switches and movement thereof inthe opposite direction will open the switches.

Lever arms 13 and 14 are mounted respectively on the forward ends of theshafts 2 and 3. A bell crank lever 15 is pivote'd to the upper end oflever 14 at 16 in a man ner forming a compound lever. A pair of tensionsprings 17 and 18 respectively connoA nected at one end to adjustablescrews 19 end of bell crank arm 24 at 25.

connected to pivot 25 has al slottedend 27 'and 2 0 have their oppositeends connected to the lower arms 21 and 22 of levers 14 and 15.. A link23 connected to the upper end of lever 13 is pivotally connected tothefree A link 26 connected to a pivot pin 28 in the end of a crank 29mounted for free rotation on a shaft30. Theshaft 30 is driven in thedi-` rection of the arrow by a motor 31 through a pinion 32 meshing witha gear'33 on the shaft. Y A lug`34 0n the gear is adapted to engage anddrive the crank 29.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4 it will be noted thatrotation of the motor will operate through the gear 33 and lug 34 tomove the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby stretching thesprings 17 and 18. We provide a pair of toggle levers to hold thesprings in this position. As best shown in Fig. 3, onesuch levercomprises a bar 35 pivoted to the base at 36 and pivotally connected toaV link 37 rectly over the at 38, the link 37 being pivoted to the lowerarlmof'lever 13 at 39. The downward movement of the bar is limitedby`engaging an adjustable stop 40. This stop is adjusted pass its deadcenter, as illustrated lin Figs. 2 and 4.

'The toggle is adapted' to be tripped or broken, to rmit the spring tocontract, by the following mechanism. y A set screw 41 is mounted in thefree end of the bar dipivoted at 43. The longer end 44 of this leverextends beneath a bar 45 connectedl to the core 46 of a solenoid 47.Energizing of the solenoid is adapted to draw the core 46 downwardly ina manner to raise the bar 35 upwardly` beyond its dead center. A spring48 is provided for thereafter raising the core upwardly to its normalposition.

It will be understood that a like toggle mechanism including a bar 35pivotedl to the base at 36 and connected to the lower arm of lever 14at39 is provided on the other side ofthe shaft 30. Like tripping means,including a solenoid 47 ,is also provided for this mechanism.

The' motor circuit is automatically closed to I'rewind the device to itsoperative posi-` tion, the solenoids 47 and 47 are controlled from adistantpoint andthe position of the device indicate at such point bymechanism now. to be described. This mechanism is shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 7.

Two like v switch units 49 and50' are mounted on a plate 51 carried bythe .up-l rights' 4 and 5. vA` block 52 of insulating material isslidably mounted in each 'unit and each block. has a pair ot' horizontalarms earring two contact elements '53 and 54 therein.l The block 52 inunit 49 in one.

ust permitting the toggle toshorter end 42 of a lever' position closesthe contacts a and b and in the other position closes contacts c and d.The blocks 52 in unit 50 in one position closes contacts e and f and inthe other position closes contacts g and h.

The contact block 52 is connected by a rod 55 to a pin 56 in the lever13 in a manner to slide the block to its two positions when the levermoves to its'two positions. When the lever is inthe position of Fig. 2the contacts d and f are closed and 'when in the position of Fig. 3 thecon-' tacts g and h are closed.

The block 52 is connected to arod 57- slidably mounted in a bracket 58.The other end of the'rod is carriedby a pin 59 on the lever 14. vWhenthe lever` is in the posi- 'manner preventing movementof the rod to theleft. When the -lever moves to the position of Fig. 2 a 'springA 63 onthe rod is pressed against a shoulder 64 thereon. The

spring is held thus Vcompressed until a'screw-A head 65 on the gear 33engages against another arm 66 and against the latches 60.

The spring thereupon moves the rod and block to the left and closescontacts c and (l. A small buffer spring 67 is provided on the rod 57 atthe opposite side of the pin 59.

In Fig. 7 is diagrammatically illustrated the electrical connections forcontrolling and operating the mechanism. -TWO positive and negativeterminals are indicated respectively by P and N. The contact switches.for the. sol'enoids 47 and 47 are indicated by 68 and 68. G 'is a greenelectric bulb which is lighted when the switches 9 are open andthesprings 17 and 18 are expanded to their operative position asindicated at Fig. 2. R' is a red electric bulb which is lighted when theswitches 9 are closed. The operation of the device is tially as follows:

It is assumed that vthe parts are in the` woundup position,- asillustrated in Figs. 1 `and 2, wherein the switches 9 are in the openposition (Fig. 6). In such positionbf the parts, the-contacts c, b, e,and f are closed. This position is indicated bythe green light AGr whichis lighted by a circuit` I )Grfchll (Fig. 7).

To close the switches 9,' the operator closes the switchv 68, whereuponthe followingcircuit is established, N, 68, 47, et), P, thusv energizingthe solenoid 47 and breaking the locking toggle. at 38. The spring 18thereupon reacts to move the parts from the po- `substan- -in 3. In thismovement the crank 15 rotates onA its piv'ot 16`and through the link 23rotates the lever 13 in a direction to close the switches 9. It will benoted that this lil() "sitionshown in Fig. 2 to the position shown vmovement is a simple harmonic motion wherein the beginning of theswitch-closing operation is relatively rapid and gradually diminishes toa final slow but owerful closing of the switches thiough t 1estraightening out of the arm 24 and link' The switches 9 are therebyquickly andy powerfully closed but are not closed with a slammingaction. The crank 29 which is loose on the shaft 30has rotated from theposition ot' Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3 and the connecting rod hasmoved the switch block 52 to the left to open contacts e and f and closecontacts f/ and la.. The position of the lever 14 has not been changed.

The opening ot' the Contact f has broken the circuit of the green lightG and the closing of the contact It has made a circuit NRLP through thered light R. This red lightindicates that the switches 9 are closed.

To open the switches 9 the operator closes switch (38, whereupon thefollowing circuit is established, N, (38', 47', g, P, thus energizingthe solenoid 47 yand breaking the locking toggle at 238. The spring 17thereupon reacts to, move the parts from the 'position shown in Fig. 3to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this movement the lever 14 rotateson its pivot 3 and moves the lever 13 in a direction to open theswitches 9. In this operation the levers 13 and 14 have both beenrotated to the right and moved the blocks 52 and 52 into position tomake contacts a, d, e, andy.

The closing of the contacts a and b establishes a circuitP, d, motor, a,N, through the motor 31. The motor thereupon operates to rotate the gear33 in the direction of the arrow.- The lug 34 engages the crank 2S) androtates the same therewith. Movement ot the switch block 52 with thelevel' 14 is prevented by the latch engaging the lug 62. lVhen the crank29 passes its lowermott position, the springs 17 and 18 have beenfullycxtendcd and locked in such position by the toggles at 38 and 38'.A screw-head (i5 on the gear 33 thereafter engages an arm (56 and tripsthe latch 60. The spring 63 thereupon moves the block 52 to the left andbreaks the contacts a, d. The motor then stops, leavingr the parts inthe fully woundup position tirst described above and ready to repeat thesame cycle of operations.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A switch operating mechanism comprising the combination of a memberadapted to be connected to a switch to close and open the same, springmeans, operative connections between the s ring means and the member, anelectric motor, operative connections between the motor and spring meanswhereby operation of the motor places the spring means under strainduring such operopen the same, a pair of springs, operative vconnectionsbetween the springs and the member, an electric motor, operativeconnections between the motor and springs whereby operation of the motorplaces the springs under strain during such operation, locking means forholdingthe springs .in such position, trip means for releasing thelocking means in two stages, whereby upon the tirst tripping one springreacts to move the member to close the switch and thereafter upon thesecond tripping the other spring reacts toopen the switch, and means torautomatically closing the motor circuit to again place the springs understrain when the switch is thus opened.

2l. A switch operating mechanism comprising the combination of a memberadapted to be connected to a switch to close and open the same, springmeans, operative connections including a. compound lever between thespring means and the member, an electric motor, operative connectionsbetween 'the motor and spring means whereby operation of the motorplaces the spring means under strain during such operation, lockingmeans for holding the spring means in such position, trip means forreleasing the locking means in two stages, whereby upon the first.tripping the spring means reacts through the compound lever to move themember to close the switch and thereafter upon the second. trippingreacts through the compound lever to open the switch, and means forautoniatically closing 'the motor circuit to again place the springmeans under strain when the switch is thus opened.

4. A switch operating mechanisml com prising the combination oi a memberadapted to be connected to a switch to close and open the same, apivoted lever, means including one arm of a second pivoted lever pivotedto one arm of the first lever for connecting the same with the member, apair of springs connected respectively to the other arms of the levers,an electric motor adapted to pla-ce the springs under strain,

.locking means for holding the springs in auch position, trip means forreleasing the locking means in two stages, whereb upon the firsttripping one spring reacts through one lever to move ,the member rtoclose the switch and thereafter upon the second trip- A be connected toa switch to close and open the same, a pair of springs respectivelyadapted toclose' and open the switch, operative connections between thesprings and the member whereby ,the reacting of the.

switch opening spring after .the closing spring has reacted -tends toplace the closing spring under strain, an electric motor adapted toplace the springs under strain, locking means for holding the springs insuch position, trip means for Vreleasing' the locking means in twostages, whereby upon the first tripping one spring reacts to move themember to close the switch and thereafter upon the second'tripping theother spring reacts to open the switch, the end of such switch openingaction being cushioned by the said straining action on the closingspring, and means for automatically closing the motor `circuit to againplace the springs under strain when the switch is thus opened. -l

6. In combination, a switch, spring means, operative connections betweenthe spring means and the switch, an electric motor,l

operative connections between the motor and spring means wherebyoperation of the motor places the spring means under strainduring suchoperation, locking means for holding the spring means in such positionand the switch in either the open or closed position which it occupies,Atrip means for re'- lea'sing the locking means .in twostages, wherebyupon the first tripping the spring means reacts'to close the switch andlthereafter upon the second tripping reactsto open the switch, and meansfor automatically closingthe motor circuit to again place the springmeans under strain when the switch is thus4 opened.

7. A switchoperatmg mechanism comprising the combination ofa ,memberadapted to be connected to a switch to close and open thel same,springmeans, operative connections between the springv means and the memberand including a pivoted lever arm having its inner end operativelyconnected to the member, an electric motor,

operative connections between the motor and 'spring means wherebyoperation oi' the motor places the spring means understrain during suchoperation, locking means for holding the spring means insuch position,trip means forvreleasing certain of the locking means whereupon thespring means reacts to open the switch, the operative connection of thelever arm being such that it opensthe switch by a simple harmonic motionwherein the beginning of such operation is rela'- tively rapid andgradually diminishes to a iinal slow but. powerful operation, trip meansfor releasing other of the locking means whereupon the spring meansreacts to open the switch, and means for automatically closing the motor.circuit to-again place the spring fmeans under strain.-

8. A switch-operating mechanism comprismg the combination of a memberadapted to be connected to a switch to close the same, spring means,operative connections between the spring means and the member andincluding a pivoted lever arm having its free end operatively connectedto the member, an electric motor, operative connections between themotor and spring means I whereby'operation or" the motor places thespring -means under strain during such 'operation, locking means forholding the spring means in such position, trip means Jfor releasing,the locking means whereupon the spring means reacts to close the switch,'the operative connection of the lever arm being such that it closes theswitch by a simple harmonic motion wherein the beginning ot suchoperation is relatively rapid and gradually diminishes to a final slowbut powerful operation', and means for automatically closing the motorcircuit to again place the spring means under strain.

ROY WILKINS.

ALBERT T. CHURCH.

lARTHUR K. INGRAHAM.

